Distinctly Montana Magazine

33 w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m great spot to have lunch at one of the picnic tables among the bunches of chokecherry trees, and gain some cedar facts from the informational kiosks. These enlightening sign panels found at so many rest areas recently began includ- ing some significant indigenous history from the region. On US Route 93 north of Arlee, for instance, there's a small rest area on either side of the highway at the top of the hill just northwest of the Hwy 93/200 junction at Ravali. A series of informational panels features a map of the Mission Valley area dotted with significant tribal spots and their original Salish names. Another panel is filled with archival tribal photos of the Qlispé and Sélis (Kalispell or Pend d'Oreille, and Sal- ish) people, along with some stories and histo- ry from their thousands of years of existence in the area. With the tribal-owned Bison Range as a backdrop and the towering Mission range to the east, it can be a powerful experience to take a little pit stop and get a sense of place here. Smack-dab in the middle of Montana, near the tiny ranching burg of Mosby on State Route 200, you'll find the only MDT-designated me- morial pit stop. The James E. McKenna Memo- rial Rest Area features a big, two-story build- ing surrounded by river rock and concrete. It's very gray, sober and no-nonsense. McKenna When you enter the larger rest area buildings, you'll notice one thing right off the bat: great acous- tics. Musicians like me can imagine the deep reso- nant tone of an acoustic guitar and a plaintive vocal ringing off the walls. A few of us even act on it. I've recorded a collection of videos where I do just that, as other travelers occasionally wander in and out, bemused by the wailing and strumming going on in a place where they'd least expect it. www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTgg5M7 wa2baN3Pi1Nox2T5LqXX9OAsAI Moseby! Moseby! This big, beautiful MDT building near Moseby offers excellent acoustics for a little guitar interlude [see sidebar]. Sometimes it's the small touches that can make all the difference inside a Montana rest area. This rest area at the junction of Hwy 12 and Hwy 191 near Harlowton shows some of the variety of vegetation you can find throughout the state. Woods' rose, canola, rapeseed and more provide lots of color during the early sum- mer along the walkways here. Harlowton! Harlowton! At many of these facilities YOU CAN BONE UP ON SOME HISTORY BY CHECKING OUT THE INTERPRETIVE MARKERS THAT SHARE THE FASCINATING, SOMETIMES SURPRISING STORIES FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA.

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